Differential for automobiles



Nov. l, 1932. A, RlENERTH 1,886,226

DIFFERENTIAL FOR UTOMOBiLEs Filed Deo. '7. 1929 vwentoz HNDRE W R15/VERT# www?,

Patented Nov. 1, 1932 PATENT' OFFICE ANDREW IENEBTH, F CLEVFELAND, OHIO DIFFERENTIAL FOR AUTOMOBILES Application filed December 7, 1929. Serial No. 412,298.

This invention relates to automobile drive axles, having two aligned drive shafts differentially coupled with each other, and more particularly to the differential connection of the drive shafts of an automobile axle. The general object of my invention is to provide a differential connection of the two drive shafts of an automobile axle adapted to rigidly lodge such drive shafts with each other when the automobile, is traveling straight ahead, and to automatically dislodge such drive shafts from each other when the automobile is turningor traveling in a curve. Another object of the invention is to provide a diiferentialconnection which, for backward movement of the automobile, that is, for reverse turning of the automobile axle, automatically lodges the drive shafts rigidly with each other, an arrangement prohibiting s inning of a wheel and assuring full use of tiie motor -power when a motor vehicle is stuck in mud or snow. Still another object of my invention is to provide a differential connection of simple form and sturdy construction without any gearing (pinions and side gears) and cheap in material and manufacturing costs.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain construction and combination of parts as will hereinafter be fully described and claimed in theannexed specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this application.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view ofia rear axle of an automobile including my new differential connection, the position of the sliding collars being shown 40 ,for straight forward travel of the automo bile, a movement for which the two shafts of the axle are rigidly lodged with each other.

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 1 the sliding collars being shown in a position for right turn of an automobile.

, Fig. 3' shows a sectional view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, the sliding collars being shown in a, position for backward travel of the auto- ,mobile Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the cage of the differential and Fig. 5 one ofthe two sliding collars, to be inserted into and cooperating with the cage shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a modied form of the invention.

In the embodiment of my invention selected for illustrating the same,vthe differential connection includes a cage or housing 2, sliding collars 3 and 4, slidingly and rotatably mounted within said cage and pin members 5 rigidly attached to cage 2 and engageable by collars 3 and 4. Cage 2 bears at its front and rear walls 6 and 7 hollow extensions o r hub portions 8 and 9v drilled to support the hub portions 10 and 11 on collars 3 and `4 respectively and cage 2 is open at` its side portions to facilitate assembly proceedings of the differential connection. The connecting portions 12 and 14 of front and rear walls 6 and 7 are perforated to seat pin or finger members 5, rigidly inserted in such perforations. Collar members 3 and 4 include cylindrical head portions 15, and 16 respectively having at their peripheralV areas slots 17 sized to cooperate with pins 5 to permit lateral' shifting of the collars while prohibiting rotatable movement thereof when pins 5 and slots 17 cooperate, and collar members 3-.4 are furthermore centrally drilled and internally screw-threaded for cooperation with the similarly screw-threaded ends of drive shafts 18 and 19 to be connected with each other by the differential connection. Cage 2 and head portions 15 and 16 of collars 3 and 4 respectively are so dimensioned and pins 5 so located that simultaneous lateral movement of the collars to one or the other side disengages pins 5 from the slots 17 of 90' collar 3 or-4. rl`hus, as shown in Fig. 2, collar 3 is engaged by pins 5 while collar 4 is free from its corresponding pins 5 and may readilyv and freely rotate with shaft 19. If both collars are simultaneously shifted in opposite directions, the collars meet approximately in the center of cage 2 or engage the inner sides of thefront and rear walls 6 and and in both cases the differential connection betweenshafts 18 and 19 is rigid and both shafts form a solid axle together, see Figs. 1 and 3. 'Rear wall 7 of cage 2 su ports a main drive gear 20 engaged by drive pinion 21 on drive shaft 22 coupled with the engine of the automobile. Any power applied to drive shaft 22 is transmityted over gear 20 to cage 2, and thereafter over pins 5 to collars Bland 4 respectively, which submit such power to shafts 18 and 19 respectively by means of the screw-threaded portions on collars 3 and 4 and shafts 18 and 19. The shafts 18 and 19 being oppositely threaded, left and right hand threads during forward travel of the automobile tend to force the collars rigidly together and a thrust bearin 23 attached to collar 3 prevents interlocking of the collars with each other.

The action of the differential connection is not quite the same as the action of a differential'with pinions and side gears and may rather be compared with the action of a clutch which permits disconnection of one drive shaft when the automobile is driving throu h a curve. The wheel and its shaft retarded in speed while driving through a curve will always be disconnected and thereby be permitted to rotate freely and such disconnection. is induced by and begins with the retarding of the rotation of one wheel with respect to the other. V

Operation of drive shaft 22 in opposite direction induces lateral shifting of collar members 3 and 4, to the position shown-in Fig. 3, a position changing the differential connection of the shafts to a solid axle.

It is to be understood .that lateral travel of collar members 3 and 4 should be restricted as much as possible and for such purpose it has been found protable to use the'modified structure shown in Fig. 6, where no pinsy and slots are used to achieve the results aimed at.

In this structure the cage preferably formed with a front cover member 24 and a rear cover member 25, includes an internal- 1y double cone-shaped ring 26, the cone surfaces of which cooperate with correspondingly cone-shaped collarl members 3-4 to lock shafts 18 and 19 with the cage and therebyestablish the desired power connec tion. Otherwise the structure is of similar shape and form to the structure previously described;

What I claim is:

1. A differential motion mechanism, comprising a rotatable cage having hub portions one hub portion of said cage, locking means for said collars on said cage and means on said collars co-operating with said locking means to interloc when axially shifted to predetermined ypositions and to permit continuous free rotation of one of said collars when said collars are shifted to other predetermined positions.

2. A differential motion mechanism according to claim 1, whereby said locking means consists of two rows of pins, one for each of said collars, extending from the outside of said cage into its interior and slots in the peripheral wall of said collars cooperating with said pins and whereby said rows of pins are laterally spaced to permit disengagement of one row of pins with its co-operating collar when the other row of said pins is interlocked with its collar.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ANDREW RIENERTH.

said collars with said cage 

